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Weekdays from 1 to 2 p.m.

Edgar B. Herwick III hosts GBH’s newest show, The Curiosity Desk, weekday afternoons from 1 to 2 p.m. Tune in for conversations, insights and profundities about the world we live in.

We want your input. Have something you’re curious about? Submit your questions via the form below, or email curiositydesk@wgbh.org for the chance to hear them answered on the show.

Watch The Curiosity Desk on the GBH News YouTube Channel or listen daily on GBH.org or 89.7 FM. To weigh in during the show, call or text at 877-301-8970.

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Listen to previous shows

  • The Curiosity Desk

    Why Are Boston Common Squirrels So Fat?

    An official Scottish tartan memorializes thousands of women who were executed over accusations of witchcraft. Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi from the Witches of Scotland campaign explain why that history matters now.Visitors to Boston Common point it out time and again: our squirrels are noticeably chunksters. We ask Liza Meyer, president of Friends of the Public Garden, why that's the case.And Mark Philben returns for our monthly call-in segment “Ask The Remodeler.” Today, he tells us how to keep melting snow and spring rains from seeping into our homes. ---------Have something you’re curious about? Leave us a voicemail anytime at 877-301-8970, or submit questions via the form on our landing page at GBHNews.org.Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content and exclusive videos.
    The Curiosity Desk
  • The Curiosity Desk

    Why is Winnie the Pooh a Symbol for Chinese Dissidents?

    Chinese political dissidents use memes and creativity to evade censors and communicate about their activism. Disinformation expert Joan Donovan discusses how they pull it off.As we near the end of Ramadan and while Lent is ongoing, we talk to Boston University Muslim chaplain Sister Naureen Mallick and Rev. Jessica Chika, BU's Protestant chaplain, about the reasons many religions have a tradition of fasting. And a coffee taste-off in our studio! We learn the Scandinavian tradition of whisking eggs into hot coffee, plus sample Vietnamese iced coffee and read Edgar's fortune in the grounds of Turkish coffee. Guests are Pan Sapkasem from Phinsta Cafe, Karyn Tomlinson from Mireal Cafe, and Kristin Santangelo from Sofra Bakery. ---------Have something you’re curious about? Leave us a voicemail anytime at 877-301-8970, or submit questions via the form on our landing page at GBHNews.org.Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content and exclusive videos.
    The Curiosity Desk
  • The Curiosity Desk

    How Do Immigrants Prop Up U.S. Health Care?

    The U.S. health care system relies heavily on immigrants to provide essential patient care. MIT economist Jonathan Gruber dives into what happens to care and costs when we lose their immigrants from the health care workforce. The GBH Archives is a treasure trove of Boston history. Our colleagues Leah Weiss and Lauren Jefferson share some of the St. Patrick’s day gold from GBH of yesteryear. And GBH News’ Gal Tziperman-Lotan brings us Four Thing to Know in today’s news.---------Have something you’re curious about? Leave us a voicemail anytime at 877-301-8970, or submit questions via the form on our landing page at GBHNews.org.Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content and exclusive videos.
    The Curiosity Desk
  • The Curiosity Desk

    What's the Skinny on GLP1 Body Image?

    The GLP1 boom and spurred a resurgence of the "skinny culture" of the 1990s-2000s. We talk about the impact that has on body image and mental health with family physician Dr. Mara Gordon and Rachel Rodgers, Associate Professor of Psychology at Northeastern.We've had a few big snow storms and yet... technically we are still in a drought. Meteorologist Dave Epstein explains why. And Mondays are America 250 days! Today we spotlight one extraordinary American, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Godmother of Rock and Roll. We learn her story from Gayle Wald, George Washington University American Studies Professor. ---------Have something you’re curious about? Leave us a voicemail anytime at 877-301-8970, or submit questions via the form on our landing page at GBHNews.org.Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content and exclusive videos.
    The Curiosity Desk
  • The Curiosity Desk

    What is My Gen Z Friend Even Saying?

    Racial disparities in kidney transplants have been a persistent problem, but a change to a key algorithm that measures kidney function is yielding important progress. Anil Oza, a reporter for Stat News, and LaVarne Burton, president and CEO of the American Kidney Fund, explain the science and what it means for Black patients. GBH reporter Jeremy Siegel got inside an air traffic control simulator recently, while reporting on a program that recruits and trains people for a critical role. He takes us behind-the-scenes of job that – turns out – is an ideal fit for young gamers. If the Gen Zers in your life are speaking a language you don’t understand, take heart. Linguist Nicole Holliday and New York Times columnist Sam Corbin teach Edgar about Gen Z slang — where it comes from, how words travel, when words die.---------Have something you’re curious about? Leave us a voicemail anytime at 877-301-8970, or submit questions via the form on our landing page at GBHNews.org.Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content and exclusive videos.
    The Curiosity Desk
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